AFNORTH's Richele Reyes controls Kaiserslautern's Dominic Bailey during a 120-pound match at a wrestling meet on Dec. 9, 2023, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Coming Thursday: basketball previews.
After years of lobbying, girls finally get their own wrestling division in DODEA-Europe.
Those hitting the mats will be making history when the season begins Saturday at Ramstein, Wiesbaden and Vicenza. They also will be seeking the first titles for girls at the European championships Feb. 6-8 at the Wiesbaden Sport and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany, after a few of their female predecessors fell just short over the last decade.
Some have a leg up on the competition, having grappled with the boys for years, while others are giving the sport a try for the first time.
They will compete across eight weight classes – 105, 110, 115, 120, 130, 140, 155 and 170-and-above. Those designations could change during the season, according to DODEA European athletic director Kathy Clemmons.
Here’s a team-by-team look at the first girls wrestling season, based on responses from coaches across Europe:
Alconbury
The Dragons don’t have a large contingent, but they can boast having one of the most experienced wrestlers across Europe.
Originally a gymnast, senior Richele Reyes switched over to wrestling when her family moved to the Netherlands. She’s qualified for the European meet three times in her high school career, finishing sixth at 120 pounds her sophomore year.
Transferring from AFNORTH, she’s hoping to step atop the podium in her last campaign.
Following in her footsteps is her sister, Maya. The freshman will compete at 105 in her first-ever season. Junior Gabriela Pantoja also hits the mats for the first time, competing at 105.
AFNORTH
First-year coach Donte Barco has three rookies trying out wrestling in seniors Christiana Ervine and Line Prax and sophomore Megane Paquet.
Despite their inexperience, Barco said the three enjoy putting in the work.
Ankara
The Trojans make their comeback after not having any girl wrestlers since the early 2000s.
Freshmen Charlotte Geis and Vivian Cortez practiced last season but couldn’t compete, and they will grapple at 155 and 105, respectively.
A key member of the soccer team, senior Arai Munkhametkarim, has decided to join the wrestling team this season. Coach Anthony Peters said she is improving quickly and hopes to make her mark before graduation.
Ansbach
The creation of the girls division coincides with the Ansbach program returning for the first time in nearly a decade and a half.
And the Cougars have a trio of girls giving the sport a try in juniors Abbi Castillo and Sarah Felice and freshman Khloe Valenzuela.
Baumholder
The Buccaneers have just two members on the team, but coach Mark Dube calls them hardworking wrestlers who will compete against anybody.
Leilani Slye returns this season after making the European meet at 106 pounds, while Alyssa Meas is giving wrestling a try.
Black Forest Academy
One Falcon is brave enough to venture into the sport.
Maris Means is new to wrestling and will compete at 140. Coach Josh McKeown said the sophomore is improving and has shown a willingness to learn.
Hohenfels
Ileana Rodriguez transferred from Georgia just in time for DODEA-Europe’s inaugural girls wrestling season.
Lakenheath
Sponsor Sharon Goodman said the Lancers are beyond excited to have a girls division, and they even have a volunteer coach who has college-level experience in women’s wrestling.
One athlete who would have enjoyed it was Sophia Yorko, but she graduated and joined NAIA program Baker University.
Still, Lakenheath brings back one athlete with wrestling experience in Peyton Caranta. The senior went 4-5 at 120 last winter.
The new members coming out this season are senior Catarina “Zey” Vargas, junior Elizabeth Fleming and sophomore Rylee Bond. Vargas will compete at 105, Fleming at 140 and Bond at 120.
Ramstein’s Liberty Snyder had Hohenfels’ Cooper Avera turned upside down before he eventually pinned her in a match at 113 pounds Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at the DODEA European Wrestling Championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein
The Royals have been busy recruiting members to put together a full team, and they are hoping that will lead to success.
Coach Thomas Wright described much of the team as raw and ambitious, but Ramstein also can bank on the leadership and experience of numerous European qualifiers against the boys.
Two of those previous Euro participants are Liberty Snyder and Genesis Esparza. Snyder has competed at DODEA-Europe’s premier competition twice and will grapple at 115. Esparza, who began in jujutsu before moving over to wrestling, seeks more success at 120 after qualifying in that weight class last year.
The other Euro qualifier is Lily Greene, who competed at 106 last year and will wrestle at 105 this year. Greene transferred from crosstown rival Kaiserslautern.
Also returning is Amira Bernard at 155.
Another transfer expected to make an impact is Alejandra Sanner at 130/140.
Rota
Coach Luke Spencer described the Rota squad as a group that is hungry to work and compete.
Quenette Kirkconnell hopes to carry over her success against the guys when she goes against girls. The senior went 17-8 and qualified for Euros at 106 in 2023-2024.
Sophomore Akira Terlaje also grappled at 106 last year and went 12-8.
Sophomore Athena Quiroz transferred to Rota this year, and freshmen Ariel Macias and Jules Maruska step onto the mats for the first time.
SHAPE
The Spartans may be inexperienced, but they have seen mammoth growth, according to coach Bridget Clevinger.
Senior captain Penelope Gomlak qualified for the European championships last year at 106 and will compete at 105 this season. The lone other returner is Freja Rasmussen.
The newcomers include senior Ilaria Chierchia; junior Aiyana Ashford; sophomores Andrea Kontri, Addison Roehrkasse, Luiza Chesaru, Victoria Rochlitzer and Lene Schaumburger; and freshmen Kennady Ruddell, Emily Holland, Sofia Cocalongo, Alexis Hall, Elia Guerrero and Abilynn Underwood.
Sigonella
The Jaguars will take 2024-2025 as a developing year.
The lone Jaguar with any experience is Rickalia Goss. The senior advanced to the European tournament multiple times in her high school career at 120, and she will be trying to stand atop the podium at that same class.
The others wrestling for the first time are Terra Love, Victoria Calleja, Arianna Duron, Ashlynn Frangella and Cameo Doblack.
Stuttgart
The Panthers have a decent mix of experience and newcomers under coach Norm Matzke.
Seniors Camille Acosta and Emi Toone come back to compete at 105 and 110, respectively. New to the team are seniors Clara Thompson (155) and Rylea King (170), juniors Violet Tomoko (130) and Keira Taylor (140) and sophomore Aida Groves (120).
Wiesbaden
Like all teams, sponsor Joseph Lipscombe said the Warriors are excited with the new girls division and they expect to be competitive from the start.
Captains Samia Calloway and Graciana Durst will lead the way. Calloway is a junior, and Durst, a sophomore, will take on the competition at 120.
New to wrestling are junior Josephine Hurt (140) and freshmen Aleigha Guillen, Carmen Lima (110), Genesis Simon (130), Audrianna Vandiepenhuisen (120) and Taylor Westcott (130).
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